Digital Smarts - How to Help Prevent Zoom-Bombing

Online classes at several schools, on all grade levels, have been invaded by “Zoom-bombing,” an ugly new activity in which hackers disrupt virtual sessions in the Zoom app to display pornography, racism and other disturbing images. Some districts have even suspended use of the app because of these threats. However, there are ways to prevent this kind of activity, and you can pass those along to a teacher. It is important for parents to remember that many teachers were thrust into this world of online teaching without a lot of notice or preparation, and Zoom is a brand new resource to them. You can help teachers figure out all the precautions to take, such as requiring passwords for each session, guarding meeting URLs and restricting screen sharing. Parents should also remember that with any online activity there is potential for something to go wrong, and you should be prepared to talk to your children if they see something that upsets them.